From NEHJ: Hangin' Out With ... Tim Thomas

What other sports did you play as a kid?
“Football in middle school and high school, but I played
baseball the whole way growing up. I didn’t play basketball
because I was always short.”

Who’s the fastest player you’ve ever gone up
against?
“Michael Grabner. He sticks out in my mind.”

Who’s the last player you want coming in on a
breakaway against you?
“I don’t care. I don’t want to see anyone coming
in on a breakaway. Some of the guys who wouldn’t
traditionally get breakaways can be the toughest to
stop.”

If you could vacation anywhere, where would you
go?
“There’s lots of different places I haven’t seen
that I’d like to go to. I went to the Bahamas once and really
enjoyed it there. I’d like to see Australia and some part of
South America at some point, too.”

If your luggage was lost, what would you miss the
most?
“Probably my camera.”

Do you have any pets?
“Two dogs named ‘Griffin’ and
‘Karmen,’ and a cat named
‘Ruby.’”

What was the worst course you had to take in
school?
“I can’t remember the name of the class, but dead
women’s poetry.”

If forced to do karaoke, what song would you
pick?
“‘Thunder Rolls’ by Garth Brooks.”

If you could be any fictional character, who would you
choose?
“There’s lots of superheroes I used to enjoy, but
Superman has everything.”

FAVORITES

Movie: “Army of Darkness”

TV show: “Gold Rush”

Band/artist: Garth Brooks

Book: “Power of One” by Bryce Courtenay

NHL player growing up: Steve Yzerman

Restaurant: Border Cafe

Store: The Apple Store

Road city: Toronto

EQUIPMENT

Skates: Bauer

Blocker: Reebok

Stick: Reebok

Mask: Sportsmask

This article originally appeared in the December 2011 issue
of New England Hockey Journal.